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O'Meley tipped to replace Webcke
4 April 2005
Bulldogs forward Mark O'Meley has emerged as the front-runner to replace Shane Webcke in Australia's starting line-up for this month's Anzac Test against New Zealand, despite playing just one half of football this year.
Webcke today announced his retirement from representative football because of a chronic knee injury, opening the door for a batch of props to fill the void.
The candidates are O'Meley, St George Illawarra pair Luke Bailey and Jason Ryles, Webcke's Broncos teammate Petero Civoniceva, Penrith's Joel Clinton and NZ Warriors skipper Steve Price.
O'Meley has been sidelined since suffering a calf injury in the Bulldogs' only win of the season, over bottom-placed St George Illawarra in round one.
But national selector Bob McCarthy said O'Meley's limited football time would not count against the 23-year-old.
The Bulldogs have a bye this weekend, denying O'Meley a chance to impress selectors before they announce a 22-man preliminary squad tomorrow week for the April 22 clash with New Zealand in Brisbane.
"He wouldn't be fit but he'll be strong and he'd be doing plenty of weights in the gym," said McCarthy today.
"You don't play 80 minutes any more. When you get tired you put your hand up.
"He's only a young kid. They run all day even if they don't train.
"He's a powerhouse when he's on fire."
Former Test five-eighth Matthew Johns nominated O'Meley to replace Webcke, widely regarded as the world's best prop in his prime.
"If he can come back and play like he left off, I think he'll be in," said Johns.
"Apart from that, there's not a struck match between them all.
"In a struggling side Luke Bailey has shown some good touches. He's a good player and Petero is a good professional.
"I'd put O'Meley in and it's a battle between the rest of them."
Price has been the buy of the season for the NZ Warriors, having gained 649 metres in four games for his new club - an average of 162m per match.
Ryles has only played two games this season because of a shoulder injury but has done enough to suggest he's capable of handling a call-up to the Australian team.
Civoniceva is likely to win a spot on the bench, especially with Broncos coach Wayne Bennett doubling as the Australian mentor, but Clinton will be hard-pressed to add to one Test cap he earned in last year's corresponding fixture.
O'Meley told AAP he was desperate to play against Cronulla at Toyota Park yesterday to help push his claims for a third Test cap.
But the Bulldogs' medical staff insisted he rested as the club's next game wasn't until April 15 when the premiers meet the Sydney Roosters at Telstra Stadium.
"We're not back until round six but it's something out of my control," said O'Meley about his lack of game time.
"My focus is to play good, consistent football for the club and see what rep honours pop up at the back-end of the year.
"It'd be great (to play for Australia) but it doesn't help when the team's not going too well and you've been injured."
Brought to you by AAP
4 April 2005
Bulldogs forward Mark O'Meley has emerged as the front-runner to replace Shane Webcke in Australia's starting line-up for this month's Anzac Test against New Zealand, despite playing just one half of football this year.
Webcke today announced his retirement from representative football because of a chronic knee injury, opening the door for a batch of props to fill the void.
The candidates are O'Meley, St George Illawarra pair Luke Bailey and Jason Ryles, Webcke's Broncos teammate Petero Civoniceva, Penrith's Joel Clinton and NZ Warriors skipper Steve Price.
O'Meley has been sidelined since suffering a calf injury in the Bulldogs' only win of the season, over bottom-placed St George Illawarra in round one.
But national selector Bob McCarthy said O'Meley's limited football time would not count against the 23-year-old.
The Bulldogs have a bye this weekend, denying O'Meley a chance to impress selectors before they announce a 22-man preliminary squad tomorrow week for the April 22 clash with New Zealand in Brisbane.
"He wouldn't be fit but he'll be strong and he'd be doing plenty of weights in the gym," said McCarthy today.
"You don't play 80 minutes any more. When you get tired you put your hand up.
"He's only a young kid. They run all day even if they don't train.
"He's a powerhouse when he's on fire."
Former Test five-eighth Matthew Johns nominated O'Meley to replace Webcke, widely regarded as the world's best prop in his prime.
"If he can come back and play like he left off, I think he'll be in," said Johns.
"Apart from that, there's not a struck match between them all.
"In a struggling side Luke Bailey has shown some good touches. He's a good player and Petero is a good professional.
"I'd put O'Meley in and it's a battle between the rest of them."
Price has been the buy of the season for the NZ Warriors, having gained 649 metres in four games for his new club - an average of 162m per match.
Ryles has only played two games this season because of a shoulder injury but has done enough to suggest he's capable of handling a call-up to the Australian team.
Civoniceva is likely to win a spot on the bench, especially with Broncos coach Wayne Bennett doubling as the Australian mentor, but Clinton will be hard-pressed to add to one Test cap he earned in last year's corresponding fixture.
O'Meley told AAP he was desperate to play against Cronulla at Toyota Park yesterday to help push his claims for a third Test cap.
But the Bulldogs' medical staff insisted he rested as the club's next game wasn't until April 15 when the premiers meet the Sydney Roosters at Telstra Stadium.
"We're not back until round six but it's something out of my control," said O'Meley about his lack of game time.
"My focus is to play good, consistent football for the club and see what rep honours pop up at the back-end of the year.
"It'd be great (to play for Australia) but it doesn't help when the team's not going too well and you've been injured."
Brought to you by AAP
